Mission Of This Blog

The overall mission statement of this blog is to share many unique topics of this blogger's interest. Topics include (but are not limited to):Southern Cultural Heritage,Local History of the South Carolina Upstate,Confederate Heritage Preservation & Awareness,Americana,Nature & Wildlife Preservation,Science & Science Fiction,Astronomy & Night Sky Photography,Literacy & Writing,Travel & Local Places Of Interest, Southern Cuisine, Popular Culture & Philosophy, Classic Animation Nostalgia,Fandom....as well as various other topics explained from the blogger's point of view. The following website contains theUNCENSOREDthoughts and opinions of a Southern-born country writer from upstate South Carolina - the living, beating heart of the great American Southland!

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

On Wednesday, February 18, even though it did not
get above 25F for a high in South Carolina, and the windchill felt like single
digits, that did not stop this little lady from crawling out from under the
house this afternoon to get her some sunshine. I'd seen her crawl out from
under the house before with a pair of little ones, but this is the first time
she let me get close enough to get a really clear photo of her.

A native species to North America found mainly in
the American Southland and the Caribbean, the Carolina anole(Anolis
carolinensis) is a small, hardy little lizard that's active all year
around. They are arboreal in nature but may be seen on the ground and
frequently seen on shrubs and trees, but is also a common sight in urban areas
on steps, porches, railing, and foliage adjacent to houses. Anoles are most
abundant on the Atlantic Coastal Plains in North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia and Florida, and on the Gulf Coast in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana,
and Texas and have been found as far north as Southern Tennessee and
southeastern Virginia. In the Carolinas they are found in the coastal plains
and southern piedmont regions of North Carolina, but throughout South Carolina,
while in Georgia they are widespread except in the Blue Ridge region.

Other common names for the anole are: The green
anole, American anole, and red-throated anole. It is also
sometimes referred to as the American
chameleon due to its ability to change color from several brown hues to
bright green - although it is not a true chameleon. They are from a family of lizards called Dactyloidae, and more closely related to the iguana, though they are sometimes confused with geckos.

Its easy to see how the Carolina anole (above) can be mistaken from the Gecko (below)....and no thanks mate, I already have car insurance.

These little critters are truly amazing creatures. They are harmless to humans, but do not necessarily make good pets. As a kid, I would catch them and put them in an old empty aquarium - least till my folks put them back outside. They need to be outside where they can roam free. Other times when I sat on my porch drinking iced tea in the summertime, I would see the occasional anole crawl onto the porch and stare at me as I looked back at them. Sometimes I find them inside my house and carefully put them back outside.The beautiful Carolina anole is truly one of Dixie's many wonders and a hardy Southern lizard.

Monday, February 23, 2015

It is almost always a pleasure for me to formally meet in person with fellow Confederate heritage supporters that I correspond with online.

On Saturday, February 21st of this year, I got the opportunity to meet up with one very amazing Southern lady at the Museum of the Waxhaws just over the border in Waxhaw, North Carolina, one Miss Teresa E. Roane, a noted archivist and historian from Richmond, Virginia.

Miss Roane is a member of the Richmond-Stonewall Jackson Chapter #1705 United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Captain Sally I. Tompkins Chapter 2 Order of the Confederate Rose out of Richmond, Virginia. She is also an archivist at the UDC Library in Richmond.

She is also the owner of many really unique and marvelously large hats that she displays oh so beautifully.

Miss Roane traveled all the way from Virginia to the Carolinas border town to present a wonderfully detailed presentation on the contributions of Black Confederates and Afro-Southern loyalists during the War Between the States.

What better place to hold such an event than the Museum of the Waxhaws, located near Andrew Jackson State Park - the birthplace of Andrew Jackson, seventh President of the United States of America. A truly amazing place that this blogger highly recommends to tourists visiting the Waxhaw, North Carolina area.

The following are some really good photos I took of the trip.

The Secrest Log House. Built in the first quarter of the 1800s and was originally located four miles west of Monroe, NC and later moved to the Museum of the Waxhaws in 1997 to become a part of the walking tour.

Wooden crosses with Confederate Banner flying overhead.

The flag flying above the wooden crosses is a replica of the
Confederate 1st National Flag "Stars & Bars" pattern used as the headquarters flag of
General Robert E. Lee, Army of Northern Virginia, CSA.

Marker commemorating the Scots-Irish Settlers of the Waxhaws region. Andrew Jackson's parents were among those early European settlers who traveled down the Great Wagon Road from Pennsylvania to the Carolinas.

The Museum of the Waxhaws.

Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson, mother of Andrew Jackson. During the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) Miss Jackson lost both her older sons in the war, and later in 1781 died of smallpoxs while helping to tend wounded prisoners held at Charleston, SC.

22 Star US Flag of a pattern used during the start of Andrew Jackson's presidency.

Another Confederate 1st National "Stars & Bars" flag (7 Star Pattern).Artifacts from the War Between the States (1861-1865) are also included.Representing North Carolina's Confederate historical heritage.

Reunion flag of the Monroe, NC United Confederate Veterans (UCV).

About the United Confederate Veterans and the flag.

Historic photograph of the dedication ceremony of the Confederate Soldiers' Monument in front of the Old Courthouse, Monroe, NC in 1910.

Catawba Indian pottery.

Native American arrowheads collected from the area on display.

A temporary exhibit was set up for the occasion with Civil War artifacts - including information on Black Confederates and their service. Courtesy of the NC Museum of History.

An exhibit honoring the services of local "Colored Confederates" including images of past local services honoring Black Confederate Veterans and a recently departed Real Daughter.

A small copy of the marker dedicated to Black Pensioners of Color placed at the base of the Confederate Monument in nearby Monroe, NC on Saturday, December 8, 2012.A memorial ribbon from the memorial service is included. This blogger also attended that service as seen HERE.

Bullets fired during the Battle of New Bern, NC in 1865 still embedded into tree trunks.

Former Confederate President Jefferson Davis' cane. A present given to him by a Black Confederate Veteran after the War.

Model of the submarine HL Hunley - first handmade submarine in history to sink an enemy warship.Included in the display is a replica of the gold dollar piece found in the submarine during excavation and the HL Hunley Award medal and ribbon annually given by the Sons of Confederate Veterans to high school JROTC candidates.

Confederate Naval Officer re-enactor and wife in mid-1800s period attire.

Local SCV member and museum volunteer Mr. Tony Way with Professor Earl L. Ijames, Curator of the North Carolina Museum of History. One of the guest speakers for the event talking about Black Confederates and their service in the Confederate military.

Miss Patricia Poland, librarian, genealogist and local historian in Monroe shared
her extensive research on a local Confederate Pensioner of Color Aaron Perry. He
was a slave and former Confederate Veteran who became a man of recognition, honor and
influence. It was truly fascinating to hear what she found out about
this one life who was a slave and how Mr. Perry went on to influence so many thru
his life.

SCV memberMr. Gregory Perry, the great, great, great grandson of Aaron
Perry, whose life was researched as a local slave and how he served in
the Confederate military and came out and influenced so many lives in so
many ways.

As the keynote speaker, Miss Teresa Roane, spoke eloquently and passionately on minorities (slaves and free men of color) in combatant support roles in the Confederate Army and their significance to the Confederate military. It was truly an honor to listen to her speak. Those in attendance learned much from her research.

All in all a good afternoon learning about some of those men who fought to defend Southern independence and the land of their birth. Not to mention meeting Miss Teresa in person. It was a great honor for me.

For more information on the Museum of the Waxhaws or the subject of Black Confederates and their descendants please check out the links to the right of this blog, as well as the links provided in the post.

Author of several short science-fiction/fantasy stories and celebrated fanfiction author for various cartoon series and science fiction series, Mr. Roden has written over 40 stories under various pseudonyms; best noted for writing the award-winning Hey Arnold! fanfiction story:Arnold's Couch Confessionsin 2003.

Mr. Roden is currently working on his first full-length science fiction-fantasy novel, as well as several other writing projects.

He is a resident of Chester County, South Carolina, USA. (Profile written by: N. McRae - with love.)

This Blogger Is Proudly American

Born In The USA

From The Great State Of South Carolina

The living breathing heart of the American Southland!

Proudly Born In The American Southland

Southern By The Grace Of God!

Proudly Supports And Honors Appalachian Heritage & History

Proudly Supports South Carolina's Revolutionary War History & Heritage

Where the tide was turned in the fight for American Independence.

Proudly Supports Southern-Confederate Historical Heritage

History, Heritage. Honor & Respect

Proudly Christian

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall never perish, but have everlasting life. ~John 3:16

This Blogger Opposes Christian Persecution Worldwide

Supports The Nation Of Israel

Proudly Conservative

This Blogger Is Anti-Political Correctness

A proud supporter of individual freedom & civil liberties.

This Blogger Is Opposed To Alt-Left & Alt-Right Fascism

Supression of liberty by any name is intolerable.

Proudly A Confederate Descendant

In honored memory of my own Confederate ancestor and all those who came before and after him.

Follow This Blogger On Facebook

Haters Be Warned!

Southern Fried Common Sense promotes positive Southern, Conservative, and Christian values; but also promotes True Tolerance, respect and understanding for all people and cultural identities in the American Southland and the world. While this blog is a Free Speech Zone for reasonable debate, anyone who brings their hateful views here does so AT THEIR OWN RISK! This blogger WILL have the final word!